The present invention provides a negative-working photosensitive imaging element comprising on a hydrophilic surface of a support in the order given (i) a hydrophobic photopolymerizable composition capable of being irradiated with actinic light through the support and/or through the front and containing at least one unsaturated compound with at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group, at least one hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer and at least one photoinitiator, and (ii) optionally a receptor layer, characterized in that said hydrophobic photopolymerizable composition comprises in the order given (i) a polymerizable layer contiguous to said hydrophilic surface and comprising at least part of said at least one unsaturated compound and (ii) a hydrophobic photosensitive layer contiguous to said polymerizable layer comprising at least part of said at least one hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer and of said at least one photoinitiator.The present invention also provides a method for obtaining a lithographic plate of high quality with said imaging element.