Anna Airy was born in Greenwich on June 6, 1882 and was the granddaughter of Sir George Biddle Airy, K.C.B., Astronomer Royal.  Anna Airey began her artistic studies at the Slade School; where she trained from 1899 - 1903.  While there Anna Airey studied with Fred Brown, Wilson Steer, Henry Tonks and Sir W. Russell.  Anna Airy not only won the Melville Nettleship Prize in 1900, 1901 and 1902, but also won all the prizes at the Slade School including the Slade School Scholarship in 1902.

In 1905, while living at 7 The Studio, Sherriff Road, West Hampstead, Airy made her debut at the Royal Academy with her painting Michael Lee Esq.: Indian Mutiny and would continue to exhibit there until her death; displaying more than 80 works in all.  During this period Anna met and married Geoffrey Buckingham Pocock, a well-known painter and teacher of etchings, and the two of them were sharing a studio at 5 Parkhill Road Studios, Haverstock Hill by 1908.

In 1906 she was elected a member of the pastel Society and her first one-woman exhibition was held at the Carfax Gallery in 1908; the same year she was elected to the Royal Society of Painters and Etchers.  In 1909 she became a member of the Royal institute of Oil Painters; in 1918 was elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and in 1945 became President of the Ipswich Art Society.

Through all her successful art endeavors, she remained a purist, allowing the natural line and curves of flowers, ferns and fruits to shape her perspective.