Elaeagnus, Hydranga petiolaris, Aucuba, Acer,Garryia, Camellia, rhodis, azalea, skimmia, hammelis Witch hazel, quince, pyracantha, viburnham, davidii, ribes,magnolia stellata, cotinus royal purple, euonymous, just a few to muse over julien.

Perennials for shade - hosta, dicentra, epimedium, hardy geranium, tiarella, lily of the valley, hellebore, ferns, snakes head fritillary, some saxifrages, corydalis, vinca, primroses, aquilegia. More to muse over, or have a look under "S" for Shade Plants.

Sorry, as I said I am a beginner - do all shade plants like the moisture in the soil too?
There certainly seems to be a wider selection than I was expecting. So far I had only come across Ferns.
Julien, I do currently have a euonymous in that area which is doing reallly well.

There are a few which will grow in dry shade. I had a very dry shady patch where things wilted very easily and I added some gel crystals to the soil - made a huge difference!
Digitalis (foxgloves, Acanthus mollis, Anemone hupehensis (a three or four foot tall japanese anemone), Aquilegia vulgaris, Digitalis (bleeding heart) - there are two types, one where the flowers grow from the base and one where they grow on tall stems and hang down like pretty little hearts on a string)Epimedium, Tellima grandiflora, vinca minor (rather vigorous ground cover) and some of the perennial geraniums will all do in dry shade. Also Euphoria robbiae but it can be invasive once established.