Chaimbeul was born into a well-known literary family in Ness, Lewis.
Her mother, Mary Jane Campbell, is a Gaelic Traditional singer.
The family's connection with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for the Gaelic Language and Culture, now part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, has included periods as writer-in-residence for both Tormod and Alasdair Caimbeul, and Mary Jane is a lecturer at the centre.
In January 2013 Catrìona was appointed for a one-year term as writer-in-residence at Sabhal Mòr.
[2] Chaimbeul has described the major themes of her work as being "inter-personal relationships, secrets and lies, and the supernatural".