Solution?

Just wondered if anyone could help me with a solution for an evergreen shrub to mask the back of a garden fence which is over shadowed by a huge tree. Basically the back of the garden faces West looking towards the house and at the moment when you look from the house to the garden all you see is the back of the fence and I would like to mask it. The ground is clay and very dry as it is overshadowed, but does get light and sun in the evening so is not in shade. But as bone dry. Being trying to work out a solution for this as I would like to build decking there and then put other shrubs around. would a Aucuba Japonica or a pyracantha or some kind of hedging plant survive there if I mixed in loads of muck to give it a start. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Have you considered a Euphorbia?

Sarcoccoca, sweet box, would do ok there. Choisyas too....sundance with its yellow foliage. I think fatsia would look good there too

Many thanks for all your replies. 

Not sure what Euphorbia would be ok, don;t know if Eurphorbia Melifera would grow there which I have grown before as I think this needs a lot of sun, just tryng to think of another version which would suit it and would be big enough to mask the back fence. I know Pyracantha is a horrible plant, but the reason I thought of it is to stop anyone trying to get over the back fence.

I can see myself sawing the big lylandii down in order to get more moisture and a bit more sun

I have a Euphorbia wulfenii, this has grown to 5 feet in really poor  bone dry soil. If you are willing to put the effort in to improve the soil and are happy to water new plants regularly while they establish, you will be able to grow a wider range of plants.