Kingsley’s practice involves painting, sculpture, illustration, installation and book arts.
He completed his bachelor of fine arts at University of the Visual and Performing Arts in 1978 and a Diploma in Environmental Education from the University of Strathclyde Glasgow in 1994. He has had more than 30 solo exhibitions in Sri Lanka and also in Glasgow,The Philippines, Ireland and India .
Gunatillake has also been the recipient of a number of national and international awards since 1980, as well as including Noma awards from Japan and Binale illustration Bratislava Czechoslovakia for picture book illustrations.
In 2001 he received the Bunka award for his exceptional work of traditional painting project following the bomb blast in 1998 at the Tempal of Tooth , world heritage site in Kandy Sri Lanka .
Gunatillak’s work of art can be found in many international and local collections including the Sri Lanka presidential collection of contemporary art.