Mr Watson had always loved to paint and had seen it as a bit of a hobby, but it was not until 1974 that his painting career blossomed, after he was asked to paint a pair of hands.
"Someone gave me money for them."
He has since made a living from painting at his home at 355 Littles Rd, between Arrowtown and Queenstown.
The Angus Watson annual exhibition began on Monday this week and will run until January 14 at this address.
The paintings sell on average for between $1000 and $2500. A painting of a woman in a straw hat commands the top price.
Mr Watson said his main focus now was on bright colours because it "makes you feel good".
"Colour's the main thing. I like playing around with colours.""People come in and go 'oh yes', they make you feel happy."
He said his paintings were not about giving life lessons or lectures, they were simply about the people, places and scenes depicted.
"I like painting people. I just paint what I see."
After more than 30 years of painting, he still finds some satisfaction out of each and every one.
"It's exciting painting them and it's exciting selling them."
Mr Watson said his paintings appealed to a collective group of people and he enjoyed seeing the pleasure others got out of his work.
"All sorts come to see them."
