The Anchoress is the stage name of Catherine Anne Davies, a Welsh-born multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. Born in Glynneath, Wales, and raised in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, Davies has forged a distinctive artistic path that spans music, literature, and performance.

A classically trained musician who grew up playing in orchestras, Davies began her career performing under her own name and as Catherine A.D. before launching the Anchoress project in 2013. Her debut album, Confessions of a Romance Novelist (2016), co-produced with Paul Draper of Mansun, received widespread critical acclaim. It was named HMV’s Welsh Album of the Year, won Best Newcomer at the PROG Awards, and earned a nomination for the Welsh Music Prize. The album was also featured in The Guardian’s Albums of the Year list.

Her second album, The Art of Losing (2021), was a deeply personal work created in the aftermath of profound loss, including the death of her father, her own battle with cervical cancer, and multiple experiences of baby loss. The record was lauded as a powerful exploration of grief and resilience, blending orchestral rock with art-pop sensibilities. It earned comparisons to artists like David Bowie, Scott Walker, and Kate Bush, and received further Welsh Music Prize nominations. The album featured collaborations with James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers, with whom she also performed live at major events including Glastonbury and the Eden Project.

In 2023, The Anchoress released Versions, a critically acclaimed collection of reimagined indie anthems by artists such as Radiohead, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, Nirvana, and The Cure. Praised by BBC 6 Music and MOJO for its emotional depth and inventive arrangements, the album was named an Album of the Year by the Mail on Sunday.

Davies holds a PhD in literature and queer theory from University College London and has published a book, Whitman's Queer Children, with Bloomsbury Publishing. Her academic background deeply informs her lyrical and conceptual approach to music.

She has collaborated extensively with artists including Manic Street Preachers (co-writing and performing on their album Resistance is Futile), Bernard Butler, and Simple Minds. In 2020, she released a collaborative album with Butler under her birth name, titled In Memory of My Feelings. She has also worked with the Pineapple Thief and Nitin Sawhney, and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Known for her rich, emotive voice and sophisticated, narrative-driven songwriting, The Anchoress continues to push creative boundaries. As she prepares to release new music in 2025—previewed during a UK tour with Manic Street Preachers—she remains a vital and evolving voice in contemporary British music.