Abstract <p>We investigate a hybrid quantum system consisting of two coupled optical cavities, each containing an ensemble of coherently pumped artificial or real two-level atoms. The system is modelled within the dressed-state formalism, accounting for coherent driving and dissipative interactions with independent electromagnetic reservoirs. Focusing on the regime where the Rabi frequency greatly exceeds the collective spontaneous emission and cavity decay rates, respectively, we derive the equations of motion characterizing the system and analyse its steady-state behaviours. Special attention is given to the scenario in which only one cavity contains a pumped multi-atom ensemble, and as a consequence, coherent excitation transfer to the second cavity occurs via cavity–cavity coupling. In this case, the mean photon number in the second cavity mode scales proportional to the squared number of atoms, i.e., <i>N</i>² from the first cavity. The proposed model offers insight into light–matter interaction in composite systems and suggests viable mechanisms for engineering collective interactions and non-local excitation transport in quantum optical platforms.</p>