Lee
I look after Tom Neale's website As you say, he is one of the finest restorers of wooden craft, having served relevant apprenticeships in the UK and Italy. After speaking with him, I think you should make clear to potential sponsors that you were not trained by Tom, as you suggest, but you were self-employed and did some basic work under contract - such as sanding and cleaning. As far as he knows, you do not have the carpentry skills nor did you demonstrate a capability to undertake the restoration that is needed for S.o.J.
One of the pictures you show is of Tom's own boat
and the other belongs to a FWB client. To use Tom's work as evidence of your own skills could be thought misleading, more so when you are asking people to give you money.
Brian