Born in Glynneath, Wales, in 1985, multi-instrumentalist and singer Catherine Anne Davies pursues a solo career under the name The Anchoress. She was only ten weeks old when her parents emigrated to Australia, before returning four years later to the United Kingdom to settle in Aylesbury, England. In 2016, between collaborations with Simple Minds, the album Confessions of a Romance Novelist brought her recognition as The Anchoress. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays guitar, keyboards, flute, and percussion, which led her to produce her own songs, produced by Paul Draper, who also accompanies her on tour. She has also collaborated with the Manic Street Preachers, Ed Harcourt, and Martha Wainwright. Launched in 2019, the podcast The Art of Losing lent its name to a second album released two years later, featuring producer Mario McNulty, author Patrick Jones, and James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers. Nominated twice for the Self-Producing Artist of the Year award organized by the Music Producers Guild, The Anchoress released her third album Versions in 2023, featuring covers of songs by Radiohead, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure, and Nirvana. In 2026, she released her fourth album As We Once Were, her first on the Last Night From Glasgow label. Featuring guest appearances by Gwenno, James Dean Bradfield, Hannah Peel, and Eaves Wilder, the album reached No. 41 on the UK charts.
