Born in Nicosia, Cyprus 1943.  Studied medicine at the Athens University, graduating in 1967.  Karayan gave up medicine and studied art in London  at Central and Camberwell Schools of Art  1968-1972 and in  Germany -etching at  the Kunstakademie Stuttgart 1975.  Represented Cyprus at the 49th Venice Biennale 2001 and at the 10th Cairo Biennale 2006 and at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria 2007.

" In his earlier themes he describes psychological states of people enclosed through circumstances in small spaces with an intensely erotic atmosphere created perhaps by the absence of erotic satisfaction. He develops his themes into the streets and parks. Familiar human figures walk past faded posters in the blazing sun, under the shade...