Abstract: Stable aqueous emulsions are described which are free from conventional emulsifiers and protective colloids and contains as the dispersed phase uniformly-sized particles of a copolymer of at least 75% by weight of acrylate monomer(s) or a mixture of acrylate monomer(s) and a vinyl monomer, optionally together with up to 10% by weight of the acrylate monomer(s) or the mixture, of a copolymerizable monomer having at least one functional group or reactive site, and up to 25% by weight of a monoester of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid. The emulsions are formed by copolymerizing the monomers in an aqueous medium which is free from conventional additives including buffers, emulsifiers, stabilizing colloids and chain terminating compounds. The emulsions are particularly useful in formulating water-based air-drying high gloss paints.