Himmat Shah was born in 1933. After an initial training as a drawing teacher he studied painting at the M. S. University Baroda froml956-60. He was national Cultural scholar 1956, and received a French Government scholarship and studied etching at Atelier 17, Paris, 1967. He was a member of the 1890 group. He has participated in major exhibitions including at Lalit Kala Academy - National Exhibition of art Triennale in 1968, Paris Biennale, 1970, Festival of India Exhibitions London, 1982 and has had several solo shows in Delhi and Bombay since 1964.

Shah has designed and executed monumental murals in brick, cement and concrete at St. Xavier's school Ahmedabad 1967- 71. Since then he started working on relief and sculpture in plaster, terracotta and ceramics.