Gallery at the Reilly: Meet the Artists

Mel Fiorentino, a renowned artist with a career spanning over two decades, skillfully merges Renaissance influences with contemporary art. Her passion for drawing and painting began in her teens, deeply inspired by the symbolism and existential themes of Renaissance masters. This classical foundation has driven her dedication to figurative work and portraiture, blending historical and modern elements to push artistic boundaries. Fiorentino’s technical mastery and symbolic depth are evident in her celebrated works, showcased at prestigious events like the Epcot International Art Festival and sold globally, including at Disney Springs’ House of Blues.

As a master of oil painting, she meticulously mixes her own paints to achieve unique textures, creating a dynamic interplay of surrealism and realism in her evolving art. Beyond her personal practice, Mel is an ardent educator at her studio, Fiorentino Atelier, where she teaches academic art. Through the atelier, she shares her passion and techniques with students, contributing to the community through over 75 exhibits and events, including the First Friday Artwalk. Nationally and internationally recognized, with works in private collections worldwide, Mel continues to create and inspire from her Florida studio, leaving an enduring legacy in the art world.

Charlita Rae Whitehead is a self-taught abstract fiber artist based in Ocala, Florida. Born in Japan and growing up in multiple national and international communities profoundly shaped Whitehead’s world view and aesthetic. It ignited her passion for culture, community, inclusivity and liberation. Having an analytical mind, a deep caring for people, and a thirst for information, she earned degrees in Health Information Management and Health Services Administration from the College of Central Florida and the University of Central Florida. Whitehead has exhibited at Shapot Art Gallery, Brick City Center for the Arts and the Webber Center Gallery.

Heather Dawn Batchelor is an internationally recognized artist known for her expressive abstract work that blends movement, emotion, and elegance. Her paintings radiate both visual and spiritual energy, inviting viewers to engage with both the seen and the unseen.

With a background in both fine art and entrepreneurship, Batchelor studied at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis and abroad, ultimately earning her B.G.S. She went on to launch Paul & Lydia, a successful equestrian handbag company that became an internationally recognized brand, sold in stores and online.

After stepping away from the business in 2017, she returned to what she had always known—expressing herself through art. Painting became her primary medium, allowing her to bring emotion, energy, and elegance to life on canvas.

In addition to her abstract work, Batchelor enjoys illustration. She is currently illustrating the ongoing children’s book series Bunny’s HeART and has contributed illustrations to the past two volumes of The Scout Guide Ocala. She is also developing her colorful Heather’s Horses collection—a vibrant series that draws on her deep personal connection to horses and her lifelong love of the equestrian world. Whether creating small, expressive works or large-scale wall pieces, her art uses bold color and gestural movement to reflect personal memories and lived experience.

She now lives in Ocala, Florida with her husband and paints full time. Deeply committed to fostering artistic growth in her community, she serves as Development Director at 8th Ave Gallery, teaches art classes at the Appleton Museum of Art, participates in events with the Marion Cultural Alliance, and leads painting workshops at her church. Through these roles, she shares her knowledge of art history, technique, and visual language—empowering others to deepen their appreciation for abstract expressionism and discover their own creative voice.

My landscape and abstract paintings are an exploration of color, moods and texture, expressed through impressionism and abstract expressionism. I use a strong palette and embody a bold energy in my mark making – creating loose strokes and vivid layers to capture my memories and experiences of the Florida landscape. It is through the energy of color that I am able to convey the stories I want to tell and the immediacy of what I see. Each painting is a journey of discovery as I watch the colors and shapes come to life in vibrant light and texture.

I paint primarily in oil and acrylic, and in recent years have been incorporating cold wax medium, which I find to be a great vehicle for layering color and creating texture in my abstract paintings. I paint en plein air and in my studio, frequently using a palette knife.

Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, Joan Mitchell and Monet inspire my artwork.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Cindy Vener lived and worked in Lynchburg, Virginia for 35 years.  She retired 16 years ago from the financial services industry from a 30 year career as an insurance actuary.  Cindy picked up a brush for the first time 25 years ago and has been painting ever since. After moving to central Florida from Virginia, she found new inspiration for her paintings in the Florida landscape.

Cindy’s commissioned works can be found across Florida including University of Florida Pediatrics in Gainesville, UF Neighborhood Hospital ER in Ocala, Healthy West Orange in Winter Garden and Earls’ Kitchen + Bar, Ft Lauderdale.

Cindy studied painting under the tutelage of Virginia artist Rosalie Day White for 10 years.  She also has taken workshops and classes with artists John Morgan, Mary Gilkerson, Jeffrey Erickson, Robert Burridge and Jane Slivka.  One of Cindy’s favorite learning experiences is the Nimrod Hall Summer Arts Program in Bath County, Virginia. She has attended this summer artist’s retreat every summer for 10 years and studied with artists in residence Sara Linda Poly, Laura Loe, Andras Bality, and Diego Sanchez.

Cindy has taught palette knife painting, abstract and beginner acrylic workshops in Virginia and Florida.

My journey began in Harrisburg Pennsylvania in a home which creativity and music was encouraged. I have had an eye for capturing scenes and personality in my work since before I can remember. My parents set me free with a camera and the world never looked the same again. This desire to create lead me on a path towards art school to fine tune my abilities, hone in on my talents and broaden my horizons. During my time as an art student I got a summer position drawing portraits for Kamans Art Shoppes in Hershey Park. There they trained me to use chalk pastels to draw quick lifelike portraits of park goers. I fell in love with the art of live portraiture, and continued to work for them for five years.
I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in 2007 with a bachelors degree in fine art photography. It was during my fifth year with Kamans that I decided to take an adventurous chance. In 2008 I decided to quit my job, I told my boss that I needed to go on a spiritual journey to find myself. I had made a plan to tent camp thirty minutes from the Ocean City MD boardwalk, drive into town every evening to set up and draw live portraits for “generous donations” (at this point you were not allowed to set a price as a street artist.) Met with open arms and open wallets I soon was making enough money that I was able to rent a cabin not far from work. After two summers of this I decided to take another risky leap of faith.
I packed my car up for Key West to go draw portraits at Mallory Square’s sunset celebration. In key West I met many traveling artists, musicians and found another place to call home. It’s become a life practice for me to take off to new places spreading my art along the way. I have had the fortune of seeing many beautiful places in and out of our country. The exotic and the geologically astounding sites have inspired many pictures and paintings for me. It’s been my preference and pleasure to meet new people and places as the Gypsea Artist I am, doing business the old fashion way.
After 8 years of pretty steady travel I have landed now in Ocala Florida with my wife and son, where my art career has unexpectedly blossomed. After more then a decade of commissioned based portrait work, I am finally making a living with my own work. I travel to art festivals, show in Gallery’s and create large public murals. I also recently have taken over managing and curating 8th Ave. Gallery in Ocala, where I showcase not just my own work but of Artists I have met during my travels.

“I am constantly studying how to see the hidden beauty in the mundane. It helps me to be complacent wherever I am in life. Concurrently, I look forward with realistic expectations and excitement for the unknown. Between those two realms, I find solace.”

Jordan Shapot is a local artist/painter from Central Florida. He focuses on making bold and emotionally driven art. An alumnus of Savannah College of Art and Design, his art is a blend of his traditional knowledge mixed with the experiences through his experimentation.