Stathis was born in Volos, Greece where he started drawing from an early age. During and after his chemical engineering studies in Athens he followed various painting courses and trained in life drawing under Kostas Tsolis. His first experience with clay was in the pottery workshop of Michalis Sklavenas where he apprenticed for three years. After moving in London in 2004 he followed ceramic courses in the Putney School of Arts under Rob Housley and John Dawson as well as in the West Dean College under Ali Sandeman and Shozo Michikawa. In 2011 he completed a project based MA in Fine Arts in the Sir John Cass department of Art, Media & Design of the London Metropolitan University.