Using traditional media such as oil on canvas and water colours, and sculpting in bronze, cement, clay and plaster-of-paris, Tilake fused oriental ethos with western sensuality in his art pieces.

[1][5] St. Sylvester's College, run by Benedictine monks, exposed Tilake to Christian artwork and culture all the while he was visiting Buddhist temples such as Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Vihara which harboured Kandyan style murals.

He also was inspired by the wood carvings on the pillars in the Embekka Devalaya and the architecture of ancient Buddhist temples such as the Lankatilaka Vihara.

Tilake joined the Survey Department as a draftsman while studying at Heywood College of Fine Arts in Colombo.

[5] In addition to Sri Lanka, Italy, and Switzerland, Tilake's art pieces have been exhibited in Toronto, São Paulo, Montreal, New Delhi, Dhaka, Fukuoka, Osaka, Karachi, Barcelona, Paris, Beijing, Copenhagen, Bonn, Hamburg and London.

[7][10] Tilake's exhibitions have been opened by Dr. P. R. Anthonis, professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Maestro W. D. Amaradeva, professor Cyril Ponamperuma, education minister I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle, Italian ambassador Franco Micieli de Biase, Edwin Ariyadasa, A. S. Jayawardena and writer Martin Wickramasinghe.

[5][11] In recognition of his contribution to the realm of fine arts, the government of Sri Lanka established Tilake Abeysinghe Foundation in 2001 through a special enactment in parliament.