At the time, he was newly bereaved after losing his wife to cancer, and art had been crucial in helping the healing process.
"Whatever we're doing, we all need to have some central in our lives and, for the last few years art has been central for me," Duncan said.
Now retired, Duncan worked as a public servant for many years, and said it was a surprise to discover his artistic ability develop by going to King Street.
"I never expected I'd be able to put something useful on canvas," he said. "No-one should ever start by assuming they can't do something; that way it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."
King Street Artworks studio manager Linda Tilyard said Duncan is a talented, subtle colourist and his portraits all have a 'funky folk element'.
She particular praised his two landscape paintings which are on display at the gallery, Whatever the Weather and From the Train Home, both capturing Wairarapa farmland, for a 'wonderful use of light'.
"I enjoy taking a different approach -- to paint a new kind of landscape that doesn't look exactly as it's meant to," Duncan said.
Another of Duncan's works, a portrait of singer-songwriter Patti Smith, was a selected for the 2015 Friends of Aratoi Art Awards exhibition.
Duncan's show follows an exhibition called Whakaoreore by Amiria Wickham -- a selection of pencil drawings depicting Marae life in Wairarapa.
King Street Gallery, 16 Queen St, is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm, 10am to 2pm Saturdays. Stephen Duncan's exhibition runs until March 1.
