Would I actually be able to see Ceres without shining a really bright torch onto it?
Ceres is 2.76 AU away from the sun, so the sunlight is seven times weaker. That is comparable to the levels of illumination 30 minutes before sunset on Earth, so you are not going to have any problem seeing the surface.

The albedo of Ceres is quite low, comparable to worn asphalt. But it is still easy to see it.