Acrylate polyesters are made by the reaction of a diol (in particular polyoxyethylene or polyoxytetramethylene glycol), a dibasic acid anhydride (e.g. succinic or phthalic anhydride) and glycidyl acrylate. The polyester can be formulated into radiation curable compositions, in particular by blending it with a polyethylenically unsaturated radiation-curable compound and, optionally, a monoethylenically unsaturated radiation-polymerizable monomer, which compositions can be used as coatings, inks, and adhesives which cure at high rates when exposed to actinic radiation.