What can I plant in a narrow, shallow, sunless border?

[DisasterEggs]

somethig nice to brighten up a dull area?

There are plenty of things which will do well in shade:
Christmas Box, evergreen shrub amazing scent in winter/spring
Skimmias, evergreen shrub again, I like Kew Green with white flowers in spring
Hellebores, come in amazing colours
Pulmonaria also lovely colours
Geranium phaeum and macrorrhizum in various colours
Have a look here for ideas
www.plantsforshade.co.uk/

Hostas dont mind the shade, and have lovlely foliage, kepp coming back year after year

Cyclamen don't seem to mind shade. Also busy lizzies for summer colour.