what about a snowberry plant? they are evergreen and have little white berries on them all through the winter. They will grow very tall but you can prune them to a size you prefer.
ceonothus are lovely, so many varieties, evergreen too with honey scented flowers in the spring or summer.
gawd Maggie, I've just spent ages looking at that site, they've got some fab stuff
Hello Fluffy, I hope you are doing ok, and Dad too 
How about a Rhododendron - you can get them in all colours - shallow rooted - easy to grow. You get them in all sizes too. This is one I brought here 7 years ago, she was in a pot then, 3 years old, so she is now 10 and gives the most glorious display in early summer, about May, easy to control.
I also have miniature red ones called Carmen, only about 18" across and the same height a vibrant red. I think they are very underrated. Daphne too is nice, I had one at last house, beautifully scented, but she's a bit fickle, if she's not in the right place, you've had it. Evergreen, with the most beautiful scent in Spring.
I'm a fan of Ceanothus too - some varieties are the most amazing vibrant blue colour
I don't have a garden, but a small yard and I have several varieties of Pieris japonica in pots. The young leaves in spring are beautiful colours depending on the variety - silvery pink, red, golden yellow, flame, copper - all sorts and there are loads of varieties to choose from. Bell shaped clusters of dangling flowers - white, pink and other colours, depending on variety. I planted mine in pots about 24 years ago and they are still going strong! Smaller in the confines of a pot than they would be in a garden, but they are slow growing and can be pruned if necessary. They like acid soils like rhododendrons and azaleas.
Or, this Fetterbush - Leucothoe scarletta ? Nice leaf colours that change from purple (when young) to green and then deep red in the winter. Can be planted in the garden (as well as in pots)- grows up to 75cm so not too big
Or perhaps a Daphne? Fragrant, evergreen and lots of varieties available with variegated leaves, pink or white flowers etc. I think these are lovely but read somewhere that they only live for about 8-10 years so that might be unsuitable for you.
Escallonia (as duck suggested) - a compact fast growing shrub. Different varieties with white, red or pink flowers, and growing to different heights depending on variety
Or Skimmia japonica ?
Just check that that you have the right soil conditions in your garden for whatever you choose, although you can amend the soil around them with whatever is needed; also that you have a place that suits your chosen shrub's light conditions such as full sun/ partial shade etc.
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