Amy Winehouse's ex Blake Fielder-Civil is seen with a new teardrop tattoo in tribute to the late singer who drew it on her face while in prison ahead of the Back To Black biopic

Amy Winehouse's ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil was spotted with a new teardrop tattoo on his face in tribute to the late singer ahead of the release of controversial biopic Back To Black.

The singer, who tragically died from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27, grimaced when Blake was admitted to the prison hospital in 2008 after a suspected heroin overdose.

Blake debuted the new ink on Thursday when he headed to a supermarket in Yorkshire. He cut a casual figure in a Champion gray tracksuit and bomber jacket.

A teardrop tattoo is closely linked to gang and prison culture, often signifying that someone has served a prison sentence. The tattoo is known to also represent sadness or loss.

The singer, who tragically died from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27, teared up as Blake was admitted to the prison hospital (pictured in 2007)

Blake debuted the new ink on Thursday when he headed to a supermarket in Yorkshire. He cut a casual figure in a Champion gray tracksuit and bomber jacket

Amy based the album Back To Black mainly on her on-off relationship with Blake, 41, who she had broken up with before its release in October 2006, where one of her hits was Tears Dry On Their Own.

He had left the then rising star to pursue his previous ex-girlfriend, but ultimately their short-lived separation helped inspire a series of songs that explore themes of guilt, grief, infidelity, heartbreak and trauma in a relationship.

Back To Black appealed to a wide variety of people and sent its famous star on the heels of five hit songs: Rehab, You Know I'm No Good, Back To Black, Tears Dry On Their Own and Love Is A Losing Game .

The couple eventually reunited to marry in Miami in 2007, but were pictured months later after a furious altercation in which it emerged they had used heroin.

The following year, Blake spent eight months in prison after admitting perverting the course of justice and GBH, and in 2009 he filed for divorce.

It comes as their whirlwind romance is set to be featured in Sam Taylor Johnson biopic Back To Black.

Marisa Abela will play Amy, while Skins actor Jack O'Connell will play Blake.

Last year, Blake said he would have done “almost everything differently” in their relationship as he marked Amy's 40th birthday.

Blake, who rarely gives interviews, was asked by Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard what he would have done differently. He replied, “Almost everything.”

It comes as their whirlwind romance is set to be featured in Sam Taylor Johnson biopic Back To Black

Blake, a former music video assistant, had a whirlwind romance with pop star Winehouse, whom he married in 2007, before the couple split in 2009 (pictured together in 2007)

Marisa Abela will play Amy, while Skins actor Jack O'Connell will play Blake in Sam Taylor Johnson's controversial Back To Black biopic

He continued, “It's sad, but I wanted to wish Amy a happy birthday. It's terrible that she's not here. I think about her all the time, I thought about her this morning when I said happy birthday to her, she was my best friend.

“If certain factors hadn't been there, I think it could have been a different outcome. For Amy, everything happened very quickly. We were young.'

It comes after Amy's father Mitch Winehouse, who is played in the film by Eddie Marsan, caused shockwaves when it was revealed he approved of the film, which has come under fire for 'grisly' depictions of the star's drug addiction and also the filming her funeral. .

The star's biopic has sparked outrage among friends, with musician Neon Hitch calling the film 'ridiculous' and 'tasteless' and saying: 'I feel very strange. Can you please let Amy rest?'

Friends expressed their anger at her father after he allowed grisly scenes of Amy's drug overdose to be filmed in her old flat. Last February, Marisa was seen wearing an oxygen mask as she left the property in North London.

The flat is now owned by Mitch, who also appears in the scene, while Eddie filmed alongside Marisa and other actors playing paramedics.

The biopic Back To Black will hit theaters on April 12.