An aqueous coating composition comprising a crosslinkable water-dispersible polyester oligomer wherein said composition when drying to form a coating has the following properties: an open time of at least 20 minutes, a wet edge time of at least 10 minutes, a thumb hard time of ≦48 hours and a tack-free time ≦20 hours and an equilibrium viscosity of ≦5000 Pa.s at any solids content when drying in the range of from 20 to 55 wt % using a shear rate in the range of from 9±0.5 to 90±5 s−1 and at 23±2° C.