The Rodios family originated in the Cyclades. Nikos is a third generation potter. His grandfather, Nikolaos Rodios or Paparodios came from Kythnos and moved to Skopelos in 1900. He was an experienced artist, inspired by the masterpieces of ancient Greece, and learned his art in the Levanti Workshop in Botanico in Athens. At 14 years old, he was hailed as a Master Potter by the older experienced potters he worked with. From 1907 he began to exhibit his work and his talent gained many Greek and international awards.
His work with its lustre, brilliance and black colour, was so good that it was difficult to distinguish it from ancient works of art. He applied for a patent for the process in 1930.
Eleftherios Venizelos wrote to him in 1931 praising his work. The Eleftheroudaki Encyclopaedia has him listed as the first Greek virtuoso of the wheel and as the father of pottery; the Athens Academy has honoured him with a State Pension. Many politicians visited his workshop and purchased pieces during the time of the junta, as during that period as Skopelos was a place of exile.
He has worked in Turkey, Romania and Egypt, but this has not influenced his own technique, which is clearly based on the classical art form.
Nikolaos taught his craft to his sons Giorgos and Vasilis Rodio. Vasilis followed the style of his father and participated in many international exhibitions gaining distinctions and awards. His brother, Giorgios Rodios, who had started working at the age of 14 beside his father, passed on the knowledge of the art to his son Nikos Rodios.
Nikos is an artist in his own right, but uses the same traditional production methods; extending the old archaic shapes into more modern art forms. The Nikos Rodios workshop and shop exhibiting examples of his work is located in Hora, Skopelos.