Comedian Paints Viral TikTok Grandma's Hilarious Mishap

Comedian and artist Joe Lycett has paid a vibrant artistic tribute to Anne Hughes, the Welsh grandmother who achieved viral fame on TikTok. Hughes was famously caught in shop shutters, resulting in her being hoisted approximately 7 feet into the air. This dramatic moment was captured on CCTV and subsequently viewed tens of millions of times across social media platforms.

Lycett, known for his unique artistic style, included a painting of this incident in his "Everything Must Go" exhibition at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibition focuses on themes of nostalgia, grief, and loss, featuring works that commemorate things "no longer with us." Lycett shared the painting on Instagram, highlighting Hughes's good-natured spirit and her humorous reaction to the event.

Anne Hughes, who passed away in 2025, had her viral moment viewed at least 58 million times on the BBC News Instagram account alone. Her granddaughter, Lilly Hughes, expressed her delight and comfort derived from Lycett's "lovely" painting. She stated that the artwork ensures her grandmother's legacy endures and that she would proudly display it.

Lilly, a midwife, finds the painting and the continued discussion of her grandmother's viral moment to be a source of laughter and a helpful part of her grieving process. She noted her grandmother would likely find the modern world "mad" and expressed amazement at Lycett's decision to immortalize her in his art. The viral incident was previously recognized through graffiti art on the very shop shutters where it occurred.