How traditional hobbies are thriving again with the help of 21st Century tech

In a fast-paced world dominated by screens and technology, many Brits are finding comfort in the slow, tactile joy of traditional hobbies.

From baking and gardening to knitting, painting, and sketching, heritage pastimes are making a stylish comeback, offering a much-needed escape and a new way to connect, create, and unwind.

And Hilary and Michael Whitehall have been leading the way during a romantic date in which they carried out drawing challenges but there was a twist, the date coincided with the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 series, which features Galaxy AI Drawing Assist - a tool that enhances sketches and transforms them into styles like illustration, pop art, or 3D cartoon.

The parents of comedian Jack Whitehall and stars of Netflix show Travels with My Father and Channel 4's Celebrity Gogglebox revealed their artistic sides producing portraits of Harry Styles, Taylor Swift - and each other - during their day out in London this week.

Alongside drawing, heritage hobbies like birdwatching, soapmaking, pottery, calligraphy and quilting are seeing a reemergence, according to a new study that has found 76 per cent of Brits find activities provide a good way to develop relationships.

Hilary and Michael said: "We've been married for nearly 40 years, so we know each other very well, maybe even too well. We both enjoy drawing, but with minimal abilities they usually don't turn out quite as we'd hoped. Thankfully the Sketch to Image feature came to our rescue. It's really simple to use and it was amazing to see it transform our 'artwork.'"

"It was lovely to relax, draw and reminisce about happy memories that we share together, and all squabble free."

Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience VP of Product and Marketing at Samsung UK & Ireland added: "We're seeing a fascinating blend of tradition and innovation; people want the tactile joy of working with clay, wood, or yarn - but they also appreciate how AI can help bring their vision to life, guiding beginners and inspiring creativity.

"The redesigned S Pen offers that familiar pen-to-paper experience, giving users an authentic drawing feel. It's really about using technology like the Galaxy Tab S11 series to enable, not replace, traditional skills."

20 Traditional Hobbies Making a Modern Comeback

1. Baking-30%

2. Gardening-27%

3. Knitting-24%

4. Crocheting-23%

5. Reading-21%

6. Drawing /sketching-20%

7. Painting-17%

8. Bread making-12%

9. Playing an instrument-10%

10. Woodworking / furniture restoration-9%

11. Pottery making-8%

12. Rambling/hiking-6%

13. Tapestry/embroidery/needlepoint-6%

14. Dancing-6%

15. Coin collecting-5%

16. Bird watching-5%

17. Calligraphy-5%

18. Fishing-4%

19. Quilting-3%

20. Soap making-3%