He went on to exhibit at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin where he would one day become an associate member.
He was also elected a full member of the Royal Ulster Academy (RUA).
Wilks's early landscapes were mainly of the Irish northern and western counties including Donegal, Antrim and Kerry.
During his career he went on to exhibit internationally in London, Boston, Montreal and Toronto.
In his later years he maintained a summer studio at Sutton where he painted many scenes of the area including Dublin Bay.