Growing up in Orkney, surrounded by sites of archaeological significance, Scott developed an early fascination with human anatomy and what the study of human remains can reveal about people's lives. He studied Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Human Identification at the University of Dundee's Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, where his postgraduate research focused on post-mortem change and estimation of time since death. During this period, he also completed an internship at the Netherlands Forensic Institute.

While at Dundee, Scott began teaching anatomy and forensic anthropology and developed a parallel interest in education. He subsequently completed a PhD at the University of Edinburgh investigating cartilage injury during surgery, while continuing to teach anatomy to medical and postgraduate students. Following a lectureship at the University of Southampton's Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences, he joined the University of Bristol in 2016.

At Bristol, Scott's work has increasingly combined his disciplinary background in anatomy with educational leadership. He served as School Education Director for Anatomy from 2020 to 2026 and has led programmes, curriculum development, and educational enhancement across a broad portfolio. In 2026, he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of his impact on teaching and learning and was appointed Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Teaching Enhancement.