Shane Taylor attended the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and received the Cameron Mackintosh Studio Prize. He has appeared in a few episodes of the TV series Where the Heart Is and Dangerfield. His voice was used in the 2006 video game Shinobido: Way of the Ninja as Goh. In 2009 he appeared as John Wyndham in the BBC film The Day of the Triffids with Brian Cox and Vanessa Redgrave, as well as the 2009 film Bomber.

In 2010 Taylor appeared alongside Danny Dyer in the British horror film Devil's Playground. In 2012 he played the role of Craig Hanson in the series Strike Back: Vengeance. In 2013 Shane played Andy Stafford in the BBC noir Quirke which starred Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon. He also stars as Miklos Horthy Jr. in the World War II feature film Walking With The Enemy99, starring Jonas Armstrong, William Hope and Ben Kingsley.

Shane Taylor is married to Ashley McKinney, and they have two children.