What about a nice grass type plant to to contrast the foliage, could go with a nice variegated one to do a Colour contrast too??

Can't think of any perennial that does all that but if you were willing to go for bedding instead begonia semperflorens would fill the bill. As they are only small you can put spring flowering bulbs underneath them.

What about a nice little cared grass?

Thanks for the replies, everyone. A small grass might be the answer, as I'm struggling to find anything to exactly fit the brief. I hadn't considered grasses as I thought most needed full sun. Will have a browse and see what I can find. :)

:)

I have crocosmia in a similar part of my garden, it adds a nice bit of colour, although it obviously is not evergreen, and is taller than 6", so doesn`t really fit the bill! But you may find a spot for it.

I have crocosmia around these too plants too but may have to go behind them because of its height?

How about Campanula portenschlagiana (previously known as Campanula muralis) - forms neat, evergreen cushions, flowers around now and mid June, sometimes again towards autumn. And I don't mean C. carpatica or C. porscharskyana, they both get sprawly and tatty.

As well as grass, there is ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens', commonly called black grass.

Thanks for the continuing suggestions - much appreciated.

Bamboo, I can't grow Campanula portenschlagiana as it doesn't like clay and wet. It's a shame as it would work perfectly with the other planting. I've tried it before, and even after working the clay, it can't cope with the amount of rain we get here. Plus, it likes more sun than I can provide it with year round (the area gets no sun at all in winter).

Odd, I grow it in shady places and in heavy soil all the time, but likely we're not so wet here, specially during winter.