Born in Famagusta and got involved with painting at a very young age. 

During the struggle for liberation (1955-59), Skotinos was sent to England as a prisoner. 

He took his first lessons in painting and ceramics while interned at Wormood Scrubs and Wakefield prisons. After his release in 1959, he went to Athens to study Art and Drama. Before returning to his birthplace - Famagusta, he also studied cinematography in New York.

Following the Turkish invasion of 74, he was forced to leave a lot of his work in his workshop in Famagusta.

Yiorkos Skotinos distinguished himself in a number of artistic competitions. His series of work «Cycle of Protest», which was exhibited in many countries abroad and expresses the artist's  protest against the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, has received critical acclaim. 

Works of his are found in many public galleries and museums in various countries.

Skotinos currently leaves and works in Protaras, where together with his wife run the Mersinia Art Center, housed on the ground
floor and the gardens of their home.

Mersinia Art center holds a number of different cultural events throughout the year,  both indoor and outdoor, and offer music, pottery, sculpture, art dance workshop facillities to both professionals and  amateurs  from the local community and for visitors.