Try this, Niggy:
Click on the square withthe "S", below; then click on the link "Shade plants" in the page that comes up.

Astibe Hybrids - Amethyst - Begonia (Tuberous) - Coleus- Copper Plant - Flowering Maple - Hydranea - Geranium (Cranesbill) - Henchera - Hosta - Impatiens

If it's damp shade you could try Podophyllum Spotty Dotty. It doesn't grow tall but is quite striking. Poisonous I believe but since when does that stop a gardener from growing a plant?

Dry shade? damp shade? Clay soil, loamy, sand?
What causes the shade - trees, fence, buildings?
Is it full shade every day of the year, from sun-up to sun-down?

You need to answer Urbanite's questions to get useful advice. And if the shade is from trees are they conifers?

Whether its dry shade or damp shade is a critical factor...

Symphoricarpus, the snowberry will do well in this situation either dry or damp shade, but be warned it will sucker and be invasive but only if you allow it to.

Having lived in a house with some and battled to get rid i'd think very carefully before getting it though. When we finally won through we found a path we hadn't known was there...

I've had dealings with Snowberry too and I wouldn't advise it unless you want it to take over your whole garden. It's a full time job getting rid of the suckers.

Many thanks to all who answered, I apologise if I was a bit vague but I am very new to gardening. I was asking for the bit at the side of my garage, I will be putting my home made beds there next year to try and brighten the area up.

Niggy, in that situation, "dry shade" would be if the beds are covered by an overhang that prevents rain from reaching them, and/or are likely to be occupied by thirsty roots--say from nearby shade trees or hedges. Damp shade would be if the water table is near the surface--bad near a structure--or if the runoff from the garage collected there. With made beds, you can condition the soil, or replace the soil entirely, so the original soil type is slightly less important. Fair warning, though: if you take the latter course, you will need to treat the beds as large containers thereafter, with frequent irrigation and feeding. I'm sort of assuming that this is shade for most of the day, as on the north side of the garage.

If its brightening up you want have you thought about variegated evergreens rather than flowers? Euonymus fortunii Emerald 'n gold will make a nice little bush that you can keep clipped if you want to and will still be cheerful all winter. Or if you don't like gold there are several silver variegated ones. Lily of the valley is sometimes happy in a shady draughty situation. Its seems to be a bit picky but does well where it is happy. Snowdrops and daffodils would be OK for spring. There are several ferns and grasses too ask us for varieties. . Not many bright flowers - I feel you might be happier with a range of greens of different leaf shapes. have a look at Brunnera jack Frost for example - and htat one does have flowers too.

I'm partial to Bergenias in shady spots: big, tropical looking leaves in shades of green to bronze, plus white, pink or red blossoms, early spring to early summer.

Another thought - are your home made beds going to be on soil or concrete? If the latter how deep will they be?