A flexible, flame-retardant, aqueous processable, photoimageable resin composition for forming a permanent, protective coating film for printed circuitry and a multilayer photoimageable element containing a layer of the photoimageable resin composition in combination with a low tack photoimageable resin sublayer and a temporary support film are disclosed. The photoimageable resin composition has excellent aqueous developability and provides a cured coating film having good flexibility, adhesion, solvent resistance, surface hardness, thermal resistance, electrical insulating properties and flame retardancy.