Amy Winehouse - her life in pics

Incredible talent ... Amy Winehouse was tragically found dead at age 27

AMY Winehouse's tragically short life was fraught with personal issues, but her immense talent was undeniable.

Born in 1983 to dad Mitch Winehouse and his wife Janis, Amy grew up in north London.

She went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was expelled at 14, reportedly for not working hard enough, and she later attended the BRIT School.

Her first album, Frank, was released in 2003 and won an Ivor Novello award, two Brit nominations and was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.

The singer-songwriter, 27, released the critically acclaimed Back To Black album in 2006, which went on to win five Grammy awards, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Rehab.

Adorable ... Amy Winehouse at age six

However, her personal life soon overshadowed her musical career as she publicly battled drink and drugs.

She wed Blake Fielder-Civil on May 18 2007 in America. The couple were arrested in the same year in Norway on possession of marijuana. They were both released later with a fine.

Fielder-Civil was jailed in July 2008, charged with trying to pervert the course of justice and grievous bodily harm with intent. The couple officially divorced on August 28, 2009.

More recently Amy had an on-off relationship with director Reg Traviss, 34.

Amy's death came just three days after she appeared with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on stage at the iTunes festival where she danced and urged the crowd to buy the young singer's album.

But news that she had been found dead came as a shock to many.

Fresh-faced ... a young Amy Winehouse in 2004

On hearing the news Winehouse's father, Mitch, who was in New York at the time, said: "This isn't real. I'm completely devastated. "I'm getting the next plane back. I'm coming home. I need to be with Amy.

"I can't crack up for her sake. My family need me. It's such a shock."

Heartbroken mum Janis said she feared it was "only a matter of time" when she visited Amy in Camden the day before she died.

Janis said: "She seemed out of it. I'm glad I saw her when I did."

She added Amy's last words to her were "I love you mum".

"They are the words I will always treasure and remember Amy by," she added.

Here we take a look at her life in pictures: