The research described in this dissertation characterises the microstructure, texture and uniaxial tensile mechanical properties of two grades of aluminiumbased alloy (5000 series (AI-Mg) and 6000 series (AI-Mg-Si)) sheet material. The sheet material has then been subjected to sheet metal formability testing for spring back and drawability assessments. The results from the formability test are compared with simulation results from finite element modelling using four different material models (isotropic yield criterion, anisotropic yield criterion, isotropic hardening and linear kinematic hardening). The material models successfully predict general deformed shapes but failed to simulate specific features of finished components such as earing heights and sidewall curls. The formability tests involve stretching, bending and drawing components. The contribution of each of these components of deformation makes the final shape of a formed sheet metal component sensitive to the mechanical properties of the sheet material. It is argued that the material models used in conjunction with the finite element modelling which rely solely on mechanical properties calibrated from uniaxial tensile tests, are inadequate to deal with the effect of complex deformations. It is concluded that more accurate predictions could be achieved if the material models had included features of mechanical properties directly influenced by crystallographic texture and Bauschinger effect. Future material models incorporating these features need to be calibrated with more advanced mechanical testing accompanied with a more comprehensive material characterisation