Found the following article online, use it to answer the question: Who is the sponsor of the man that Nosey Barbon wants to be a protégé of?

Eccentric painter Gulley Jimson is released from a one-month jail sentence for telephone harassment of his sponsor, Mr Hickson. Nosey Barbon, who wants to be Jimson's protégé, greets Jimson at HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, but Jimson tries to discourage Nosey from pursuing painting for a living. Jimson goes to his houseboat, which his older lady friend Coker has been maintaining in his absence.
Jimson tries to borrow money from Hickson and Coker. Jimson and Coker later visit Hickson to secure payment for Jimson's artwork. Jimson tries to steal works back from Hickson's place but Coker stops him. Hickson calls the police, but Jimson and Coker escape.
Jimson responds to a note from A. W. Alabaster, secretary to Sir William and Lady , who are interested in acquiring Jimson's early artworks. Jimson and Coker try to secure one of those works from Sara Monday, Jimson's ex-wife, but she turns them down.
When Jimson visits the Beeders, he sees a blank wall in their residence and is inspired to paint "The Raising of Lazarus". He learns that the Beeders are leaving for six weeks, and takes advantage of their absence to execute the painting. An old artistic rival, Abel, intrudes on Jimson to bring in a large block of marble to fulfil a sculpture commission for British Rail. Jimson pawns the Beeders' valuables, and Abel and Jimson accidentally destroy part of the Beeders' floor when the marble is dropped. After Jimson has completed the painting, the Beeders return. Shocked by the painting, they fall through the hole in the floor.

Mr Hickson