What to expect
Egbert Marday, or Kreasyon Beau-et-Mien, is known for his work as an artist, painter, sculptor and model maker. He paints in acrylic and oil, makes collages and works in mixed media, while his sculptures are made of wood, plaster of Paris, metal, clay and resin.
Kreasyon Beau-et-Mien is the name of his studio and gallery. It stands on La Misère Road, in his own house, which is called Helvetia. So you are not visiting an exhibition space in the usual sense, but the workplace of an artist who has been working on Mahé for many years.
Egbert also keeps a small farm with chickens and goats, which he is happy to show visitors. He grows bananas, papayas, passion fruit, oranges, chillies and much more. His biggest customers are hotels, such as the Constance Ephelia at Port Launay.
The artist and the house
His former home, built in Creole style with plenty of timber, soon became too small for his growing family and was promptly converted into a gallery and workshop.
The artist himself describes his subjects as the everyday life of people in the Seychelles, with their struggles, joys, worries and hopes. Some of the work is figurative, some abstract. One of his best-known public works is in Victoria: for the Catholic cathedral he created the tabernacle and the carved doors, and the renovation was completed in 1995. You can read more on the page about the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception.
Getting there
By car
From Victoria, join Bois de Rose Avenue. At the STC Hypermarket, go straight on through the roundabout. At the next roundabout (by the Roche Caiman petrol station), take the third exit. Continue straight onto La Misere Road and over the hill towards Grand Anse on the west coast. About halfway down the other side there is a longer straight stretch (on the right it looks like a clearing). On the left-hand side of the road you will see the “Egbert Marday” sign, along with a few metal sculptures and flower pots. You can park in the yard. The drive takes just under 20 minutes.
This is a winding mountain road. Drive slowly, and in rain expect a wet surface and leaves on the carriageway.
By bus
Several Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) routes run through La Misère. When you board, tell the driver you want to go to Egbert Marday's gallery so that you get off at the right place.
| Line | Route |
|---|---|
| Route 11 | Baie Lazare via La Misère (variants 11B and 11C: Baie Lazare via La Misère and Takamaka, Anse Boileau via La Misère) |
| Route 12 | La Misère STA (Seychelles Tourism Academy) |
| Route 13 | Port Launay via La Misère |
Opening times and visiting
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday to Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | By appointment only |
| Admission | No fixed admission prices published (as of November 2026) |
| Duration | About 30 to 60 minutes, longer if you have the farm shown to you |
| Best time | Late morning or early afternoon in dry weather, as the sculptures and farm are outdoors |
Older sources describe the gallery as “open daily”. Since this is a studio attached to a family home, it is sensible to let him know briefly in advance, especially on Sundays. You will find the contact details on the artist's website.
Tips and things nearby
The route crosses the hill towards Grand Anse, so a swim along the way is an option. Other beaches on the west coast are Anse Boileau, Baie Lazare and Port Launay. The neighbouring Port Launay Coastal Wetlands is a mangrove area, and a visit there can easily be combined with the nearby Constance Ephelia hotel.
If you are interested in art, Mahé has other studios, such as the Studio Gallery Baie Lazare or the Les Mamelles Art Gallery. For an overview of the island, see the page on Mahé.
